City animal control officials are ramping up their trapping efforts to rid some urbanized areas of coyotes.

The heightened trapping program is in response to sightings and an encounter last week between a coyote and a child.

A Belleville mother was watching her six-year-old son play in Stanley Parkette off Farley Avenue in Belleville last Tuesday when he was attacked by what she thought was a dog.

It turned out the animal was a coyote.

Reports state the boy suffered cuts below his eye and on his eyelid. He was not, as was reported at the time, 'mauled.'

In response to the incident and following other sightings of coyotes in different areas of Belleville, city hall announced in a statement Monday it will team with the Ministry of Natural Resources on “selective trapping of coyotes within city limits.”

Belleville's chief building official, Ted Marecak, stated trapping is being done on private property with the permission of property owners in the city's east and west ends.

Last week, Belleville animal control officer Ron Pierce set traps in both the east and west ends in an effort to lessen the coyote population.

“It is important that we keep interaction between people and their pets and these wild animals to a minimum,” noted Marecak.

“We have faced this problem in the past and selective trapping has proven effective at minimizing the risks that coyotes present to urban areas.”

City hall officials declined permission for The Intelligencer to photograph Pierce or the traps, saying they were trying to avoid any potential hysteria over the presence of the animals in the area.

Marecak added coyotes adapt well to urban areas and typically hunt for rabbits, mice and other small animals just after dusk or before dawn.

“They are typically shy and non-confrontational to humans. If you are concerned about the safety of your pets, they should be fed and kept indoors,” he said.

Coyote sightings are commonplace in Southern Ontario.

Marecak advises anyone who may see coyotes in city limits to keep their distance.

“And the animal will most likely avoid you,” he added.

There are several ways people can discourage coyotes from entering their property. These include keeping the areas near buildings free from clutter, cutting down grass and weeds and repairing any openings under buildings where coyotes may den or bed down.

Residents are asked to report coyote sightings to Pierce Animal Control at 613-966-4483 or Belleville City Police at 613-966-0882 to assist in monitoring locations of coyotes.